Shows
Growing Farms PodcastInstagram for Farmers - 2022Many of us know how to use Instagram, but do we know why we use it? What are you accomplishing, and is it worth your time? In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast, host John Suscovich discusses Instagram best practices, his strategy on Instagram, and he shares several accounts worth following if you’re in the pastured poultry space.2022-01-2124 min
Growing Farms PodcastPasture Based Farm Thrives During PandemicToday on the podcast I am joined by my friend Dave Shields of Pastured Life Farm in North Central Florida. Dave and his wife Ginger have been raising animals on pasture and direct marketing them to customers for years. It just so happens the farming and sales model they set up is perfectly suited to serving their community in a time of need. On today’s farm podcast Dave shares how they got started, why they set up their farm the way they did, and how they have been able to provide healthy food to people while adh...2020-04-091h 00
Growing Farms PodcastAPPPA - Ginger ShieldsJohn: Hey there friends and fellow farmers. Welcome to another episode of The Growing Farms podcast. I am your host, John Suscovich, and today's episode is going to be an "Ask APPPA" show, the American Pasture and Poultry Producers Association. At one of the annual APPPA conferences I brought my camera, I brought my microphone, I brought my friend Mike, and we recorded interviews with about two dozen people. I asked those two dozen people the same four questions. And the wonderful thing about this community is that our heart, the core mission of what we...2020-03-2514 min
Growing Farms Podcast102 - When Farming Gets You DownIt can feel like the to do list gets longer before it gets shorter, that at times the world is out to get you, or things aren’t going your way. It is ok to want to quit, but what defines us as people is how we react to being in these situations. Work toward a better life, hang in there, and tomorrow will be brighter.2020-03-1046 min
Growing Farms PodcastFarming MotivationThink of the reason you do what you do. Whether you are farming or thinking about starting a farm, why are you doing this? The key to keeping a business going, and creating a lasting lifestyle is to find what drives you, and let it keep driving you forward. I would love to publish the podcast episode or YouTube video where I have the magic bullet to making farms financially viable and “successful” but I do not think a magic bullet exists. It takes a stupid amount of hard work and determination. When the going gets...2020-03-1044 min
Growing Farms PodcastGetting Rid of Farming ExpertsWho are “they” exactly? They told us it can’t be done. They told us you cannot make money farming. They told us you can’t raise sheep without a heavy parasite load. They said you can’t have 0% mortality in the brooder. They said that you have to farm this way or that. I’m not saying that educated people are nonsense. That would be a gross misinterpretation of my point. What I am saying, is that there is an inherent flaw in the human to human interpretation of the scientific method in that variables ar...2020-03-1035 min
Growing Farms Podcast99 - What keeps you up at night?There is a lot to farming that will keep you awake at night. Is the brooder closed, are all the birds in, are the predators out, is the greenhouse warm enough, did you remember to check this or that? Then there’s all the life stuff that keeps you up at night. On today’s episode of the Growing Farms Podcast Troy and I cover three areas of concern that are universal to most people.2020-03-1030 min
Growing Farms Podcast98 - Best Farming Advice EverWith all that advice and information floating around how do you tell what is good and what is not? With a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips, what’s the best advice? That is what Troy and I tried to capture with today’s farm podcast episode. The best piece of advice we have ever gotten.2020-03-0921 min
Growing Farms Podcast96 - Farming by NOT FarmingThe most common question we get here at Farm Marketing Solutions is “how do I start a farm?”. That question comes from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. Seriously, we’re data nerds and our analytics say we get visitors from over 97 different countries. Because there are 7 billion people in the world inevitably all of our stories and circumstances are going to be different. That is one of the inherent difficulties in agriculture. There is a lot of good information out there on “how to grow stuff” but the real art of farming and being...2020-03-091h 03
Growing Farms Podcast95 - Farm Work Life BalanceWorking to find a balance that works for you between farm life, home life, and your personal life is the ultimate goal of sustainability. You want to be a member of your community, a member of your family, and at the same time take some time for yourself. In this episode Troy & John discuss their efforts at a balanced sustainable life.2020-03-091h 05
Growing Farms Podcast94 - Why farm at all?It is a pleasure to bring back the Growing Farms Podcast with my good friend and mentor Troy Bishopp. In today’s episode we tackle the topic of getting into agriculture as a hobby or profession. What draws people back to the land? Once they are there what keeps them working when things get difficult?2020-03-091h 15
Growing Farms PodcastFarmers Makes You PurgeIt’s a cliche as this point that “farming is hard”. Yeah, we know. Anyone that has tried to work the land knows full well how ruthless Mother Nature can be and how unforgiving the farm can seem at times. What gives me hope for the future is that the current generation of farmers getting into agriculture are bringing with them tools of all kinds. Drones, software, new planting innovations, and the knowledge sharing tool that is the internet. We now have the opportunity to farm in ways that have never been done before.2020-03-0929 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP093: 2017 Farm Plan2017 Farm Plan - Camps Road Farm With each new farm season there are adaptations based on what you have learned from previous years as well as adapting to what your goals are for the coming year. We are making some big changes on our farm this year and I am really happy to be able to share them with you through the Growing Farms Podcast. I am using the Farm Marketing Solutions website to take notes this year. I am organizing my thoughts, my research, my production numbers into the Resources section of the website.2020-03-0339 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP092: Pigs Escape and Growing Chickens Chicken Tractor Plans APPPA - American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Feed Testing Pasture Fencing I Use Support the Show on Patreon 2020-03-0319 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP091: Farm UpdateThis farm podcast episode updates you on my: Pastured Poultry Pastured Pigs Apple Orchard Hop Yard Book release!!! 2020-03-0322 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP089: Pigs on PastureRaising pigs has to be one of the most fun things that I do on farm. I truly enjoy almost every part of it. I mean, don't get me wrong, they could smell a little better every once in a while but who can turn their noses up at their floppy ears, curly tails, and curiously happy demeanor? I get my pigs for the season in less than a week. I'm raising 20 pigs this year for various different markets. It's a step up for me. A far cry from big production, but big enough to feed some...2020-03-0253 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP088: My BackgroundNo matter what you've done before you got into farming, it applies. It all applies!!! Granted some of us are going to get into farming full time and run our own farms and others are going to be happy with a backyard garden. The important thing here is that we're all willing to get our hands dirty. I take a small amount of pride in that I've worked hard over the years to make my life interesting. It sounds a little egotistical perhaps, but I'm alright with that, because it's been fun. In past years...2020-03-0239 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP087: Urban CSA and ApothecaryI have been in love with the idea of more farms appearing in urban settings. That is how we bring food to the masses and help wrangle that ugly beast called food security. Clever uses of otherwise untapped resources. On today's farm podcast episode we visit one of those urban farms to see how it all fits together. Items covered or mentioned on today's farm podcast: Double N Urban Farm Double N on Facebook Farm Marketing Solutions on YouTube Permaculture Voices Conference Farm Quote of the episode: "Don't worry. If plan...2020-03-0246 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP090: Welcome Back! Farm Marketing Solutions on YouTube Ask Voices with Diego Footer and Me, John Suscovich Camps Road Farm Kent Falls Brewing Company Neversink Spirits 2020-02-1924 min
The Gold Shaw Farm PodcastJohn Suscovich of Farm Marketing SolutionsJohn Suscovich is a farmer from Western Connecticut. He is also the inventor of the the Suscovich Stress-Free Chicken Tractor, one of the most popular designs out there, used by farms across the world, including Gold Shaw Farm. In today's episode, I got the chance to sit down with John and learn his story and gain some valuable insights on starting a farm.
To learn more about John, check out his website: www.farmmarketingsolutions.com
MORE ABOUT GOLD SHAW FARM
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/goldshawfarm
Web: http://www.goldshawfarm.com
Facebook: http://www.fac...2019-11-2047 min
Stories Told with Morgan GoldJohn Suscovich of Farm Marketing SolutionsJohn Suscovich is a farmer from Western Connecticut. He is also the inventor of the the Suscovich Stress-Free Chicken Tractor, one of the most popular designs out there, used by farms across the world, including Gold Shaw Farm. In today's episode, I got the chance to sit down with John and learn his story and gain some valuable insights on starting a farm.
To learn more about John, check out his website: www.farmmarketingsolutions.com
MORE ABOUT GOLD SHAW FARM
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/goldshawfarm
Web: http://www.goldshawfarm.com
Facebook: http://www.fac...2019-11-2047 min
Growing Farms PodcastGrowing Farms Podcast Returns2019-01-0801 min
Small Farm NationTalking Pastured Poultry with John Suscovichsmallfarmnation.com In this episode I'd like to share an excerpt of my Mastermind interview with John Suscovich of Farm Marketing Solutions. John has just published a new book on Marketing Pastured Poultry, and we discussed key parts of that book in this episode.
In this excerpt, John and I discuss:
What Howard Stern and pastured poultry have in common
What a pastured poultry business is
The investor reasons for starting a pastured poultry business
How much land is needed for a pasture poultry business
How John took the "Forrest Gump" approach to...2018-09-1025 min
Grassfed LifeThe Burnout is Real - Struggles, Challenges, and Finding True Wealth Farming with John Suscovich (GFL95)John Suscovich talks farming reality - the challenges and the struggles. The importance of book keep and the numbers for decision making. And why it's important to stop and just take a break sometimes. Subscribe to John on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/farmmarketing Find John's Books at: http://www.farmmarketingsolutions.com Get exclusive content each week with the Grassfed Life Insider. Learn more at https://www.grassfedlife.co/insider Grassfed Life Courses: https://farm-business-essentials.teachable.com/courses 2018-04-021h 17
Growing Farms PodcastGFP086: It Is My BirthdayI'm a day older than I was yesterday, but today I got to use a whole new number. I've made it to 31 and I'm pretty happy about it. In this podcast episode I talk about what my plans are for the farm this year and why they are that way. Then I go over what's happening on Farm Marketing Solutions and content for the year and I ask you for help. Ya see, I cannot do this without you. Talking into the abyss of the internet means nothing if there is no one to listen...2016-02-0324 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP084: Starting a Farm CrawlThere was a problem that I now had a farm stand, I did a lot of work to make my farm beautiful and accessible, but no one was showing up. How do you get people on your farm without breaking your marketing budget? The answer: Farm Crawl A farm crawl is a one day event where multiple farms in the same area open their doors, hold tours, and cross-market each other to the benefit of all. Customers travel from farm to farm to see what the farms have to offer, get tours, meet the farmers where they...2015-12-2947 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP083: 5 Lessons Learned On Farm This YearI know we have all learned a lot this year. There have been good times, there have been bad times, and everything in between. This farm podcast episode focuses on five lessons learned by one of the Farm Finance Challenge participants Jonathan Woodford of Sugarwood Acres. Better record keeping is the key to success. Things don’t always go according to plan. It’s important to take time to help others. Do what it takes to get the job done. A farm is a wonderful place to raise a family. What is my name? Jonathan Woodford What...2015-12-2950 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP082: Managing EmployeesI am super pleased to bring Curtis Stone back on the show for another episode to talk all about managing the farm, employees, and growing more farmers for the future. We cover the nitty-gritty of harvesting information on farm and what to do with that information once you have it. Managing employees can be one of the most emotional and difficult things you can do farming. Forget crop losses, acts of God, and poor markets, other humans have the potential to drive you insane like nothing else. I am finding however that there is a way to...2015-12-2955 min
Pastured Poultry TalkGrowing Into a Farm with John SuscovichWhat makes a guy quit his New York City job on the Howard Stern show, sell everything he owns to bicycle across the US, and then start his mid-life farming career. That's the summary of John Suscovich's self-described quarter-life crisis. John is the Farm Manager at Camp Roads Farm in Connecticut and host of the Growing Farms Podcast.
In this episode, Mike and John talk through John's transition to farming. Over the course of four years, he has gone from a trial batch of 40 broilers in year one to raising as many as 2,400 meat birds and up to 3...2015-11-2154 min
Growing Farms PodcastGFP081: On The Shoulders Of GiantsWhat separates professionals from amateurs is experience. There’s no getting around experience. You can read all the books, watch all the videos, take all the classes, but until you try and do whatever it is you’re trying to do it’s all just theory. What I cannot help be be fixated on these days is tracking that experience, documenting it, so it is easier to learn from past experiences and work toward my holistic goals on farm. “Standing on the shoulders of giants” means that you are picking up where someone else left off. Learning from their...2015-10-2854 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP080: Welcome Back!Hello everyone! The podcast was on hiatus as we deal with the technical issues of a 3 year old website and podcast. Technologies change and I was unable to farm and keep on top of the changing times. But that’s OK! Because the Growing Farms Podcast is back. Back with the every other week schedule. Scott has a new day-job which is monopolizing his time so Farm Fantasy Camp is on hiatus until further notice. In today’s show I go over what I’ve been up to on farm and with Farm Market...2015-10-2821 minGrowing Farms PodcastFFC004: LightbulbsTopics covered in this farm podcast: John & Scott do not like Skype Windows 10 might reinvent how we look at garbage John’s going on vacation, Scott too has gone on vacation Is there valor in working long hours? Hours Tracker App on iPhone for logging work hours Accepting that things will not be perfect How many things would fix themselves if I did not touch them? John uses an iPhone 6+ to shoot, edit, and upload videos Lower polish and increased iteration Adjusting what you grow to suit your needs and the needs of your market John goes camping in...2015-10-111h 01Growing Farms PodcastGFP079: How to Start a Hop YardTopics covered in this farm podcast include: Mistakes made when starting a hop yard What hops are How hops are grown How many plants can you fit per acre for production Sometimes there’s just no choice but to spray Insight into the Craft Beer Industry’s effect on hop production Where do you find good farming information Interview with Geoff Keating of The Hop Yard Geoff has spent the majority of his life as a Maine resident, leaving only to earn his bachelor in Communication and study the principles of marketing at colleges and univ...2015-10-1145 minGrowing Farms PodcastFFC003: Talking Nonsense Scott’s microphone is marginally improved, though slightly robotic John’s feelin’ good post-meltdown and the farm’s running smoothly Bears! A bear on the farm There are B.S. artists out there. Dr. Oz is one. The Food Babe is another The Food Babe makes some pretty outrageous claims John gets questions about “chicken hormones” at the market Among other things, worrying about food trends (e.g. uh oh, eggs are bad for you again) encouraged John to pay closer attention to food John read a book about how information spreads on the internet, Trust Me I’m Lying by Ryan Holida...2015-10-111h 03Growing Farms PodcastGFP078: Commercial Kitchen on FarmHave you considered diversifying with a commercial kitchen? Diversifying your farms’ offerings is always a good idea. Many of the guests who have been on this podcast have talked about it, and it is a large part of my business model. Have you considered diversifying with a commercial kitchen? On today’s episode Laura McKinney of Riverbank Farm talks about how her kitchen got started. She also talks about life on farm, how she got started in AG, and where she sees it all going. In this farm podcast you will learn: triumphs and fail...2015-10-1152 minGrowing Farms PodcastFFC002: I call Shenanigans Scott traveled to Iceland and Denmark John tailoring FMS to different situations than New England farming John disliking possessions/responsibilities as it relates to travel Scott taking stock of possessions while moving, realizing there’s very little Micromanagement and preventive measures to extend the life of possessions Having “your name on something” resulting in high standards Soylent follow-up: John had Soylent, Scott might not rebuy, case closed John’s getting a root canal, Scott hadn’t been to a dentist in a long while, Dr. Oppenheimer Mini excavators versus regular ones Dr. Oppenheimer wants some chickens We’re not yet very good at...2015-10-1157 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP077: Permaculture VoicesWhat we are about at Permaculture Voices.. How can you change the world if you can’t make a living in the process? It’s too common for people within the permaculture and sustainability movement to do work that they care about, but scrape by financially. And the reality of that is, at the end of the day that type of lifestyle isn’t sustainable – the values are there, but the economics are not. Can you make a living from a career that aligns with your values? We believe you can. Our miss...2015-10-1156 minGrowing Farms PodcastFFC001: Farm Fantasy CampThe Growing Farms Podcast was started to share my journey into agriculture. Like most journeys this one has been made more enjoyable by sharing it with others. One of the people I share my agriculture experiences with is my good friend and business partner Scott. In this every other week podcast series we talk about the kind of things that come up when one friend lives in the City and the other in the Country. Scott works in advertising in New York City and I manage a 52 acre farm in Connecticut. The dichotomy of our lifestyles is...2015-10-1153 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP076: Burnout Follow UpLosing your sh** is not an easy thing to talk about. No one is really proud of not being able to keep it together under pressure, yet as small business owners it is something we all go through. While I do not feel comfortable being this open and vulnerable (yeah, even me) I think that it is an important topic to merit a few episodes about the different elements of why burnout happens. I am bringing on some guests to discuss the topic and we’ll keep it light. There is a community that has fo...2015-10-111h 03Growing Farms PodcastGFP075: My Big MeltdownThis was a tough podcast episode for me to publish. I have been dealing with burn out lately and that has lead to depression. I am definitely not the only person to have run a small business and have experienced this. There are high highs and low lows when it comes to small business management and farming is perhaps worse than most. I wanted to share this story, as vunerable as it makes me feel because: This is the stuff you will not find in any text books I’m not the only one go...2015-10-1139 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP074: Farmers Using InstagramIs social media all it's cracked up to be? It is still working for some and yet, not for others. I speak with one farmer in this podcast episode who is gaining some attention through his efforts in Social Media. I have found that in particular I have been unhappy with Facebook as a platform. You have to pay to get people to like your page, then, if you have a post that is popular or you want people to see you have to pay to reach all of your "fans". These are people who have liked you page...2015-10-1150 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP073: How to Start a SlaughterhouseImagine that you built a business that relied on someone else doing their job well in order to properly satisfy and impress your customers. Sounds like a lot of small businesses right? Now imagine that you lost that important connection and you are suddenly up a creek without a paddle. There are people in this world more brave than I am who are willing to take a seriously leap of faith and take control of the critical step in their business. One of those people is my guest on the show today. She saw that her business...2015-10-1147 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP072: Proper Farm PLanning Makes All The DifferenceDoes it feel like sometimes you want to just not have a plan? If you don’t have a plan then nothing can go wrong, right? Let me tell you, it is that time spent planning that helps you figure out what is going to wrong and how you will be able to handle it when things take a turn. Without my planning time and the time spent researching and organizing I would be a total wreck right now. My farm plans for the year have completely been turned on their heads several times already and we’re o...2015-10-111h 07Growing Farms PodcastGFP071: Farm Finance ReportsThis month brings a combo post like you’ve never seen before. The Farm Finance Challenge and the Growing Farms Podcast have landed on the same day. In honor of such an event one of the participating farmers in the FFC is the interview on the podcast this week. Some of the farmers in the FFC are farming full time, others are homesteading or farming part time. Dan Berube of Berube Farm came on the show today to talk about the balance he has struck between farming vegetables part time and continuing a career off-farm. In thi...2015-10-101h 03Growing Farms PodcastGFP070: Multiple Income Streams From One ProductIt is not the small farm's place to count on the grain elevator to set the prices. It is our job to go out, market out products in new and creative ways, and hustle in a way that sees out small businesses succeed (hopefully). This is a topic that I've covered in previous podcasts but since I am currently and constantly refining it, I feel it needs revisiting. I also have a guest on the show who is diversifying her farm not only in production but in marketing as a way to deal with the swings in the market.2015-10-1054 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP069: Farm Education Programs, What You Need To KnowInformation, like matter, cannot be created or destroyed, just changed. Even the most creative works are just the imaginative reworkings of some artists mind. All of our thoughts are distillations of our life experiences. Knowing that, how would you feel if you knew you had the chance to influence the thought patterns of others with your work in sustainable agriculture. I know how I'd feel, pretty darn cool! Today's podcast guest is a farm educator who has accomplished some pretty amazing things in his area of the world. In this podcast episode he and I talk about...2015-10-1052 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP068: Farm Planning and Execution “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Isn’t that the truth? 2015 has gotten off to a rocky start but things are really starting to look up. Even with three feet of snow outside I can already see signs of Spring. Birds are starting to sing in the morning, maple sap is slowly slowly starting to run, and my order for baby chickens just went out. It has really been a weird past couple of months. Through a strange turn of events I ended up being the only one running the farm this year in a place...2015-10-1045 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP067: Location and Branding Make All the DifferenceFarm marketing is really funny in that is can be very easy, or it can take a significant amount of effort. Today's podcast showcases a good example of both. My guests today Patti & Rick from Breakwind Farm are a good example of choosing the right farm location as well as some really successful branding centered around humor. Camps Road Farm, my farm, is a good example of poor farm location and I'll be honest, some boring branding. Good/Bad Farm Location When you're starting your farm and you're looking for land, an important thing to consider is...2015-10-1054 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP066: Stockpile Grazing, Saving Money, Sharing InformationWhat if you could save more money every year just by managing your farm a little better and taking care of your land? What if the strategy that made the most ecological sense made the most financial sense as well? Well, turns out people have been doing it for years! We're talking stockpile grazing. Where basically instead of cutting hay you are leaving the grass on pasture and letting the cows graze longer. Seems simple right? Well yes, the concept is simple, but the actual execution is a little tougher, that's maybe why not so many people do it...2015-10-101h 02Growing Farms PodcastGFP065: Is a Homesteader a Farmer?When it comes to owning and operating a farm business there is a lot of talk about scale. Are you big enough? Are you too big? What is right, what is wrong? There is only one right answer, whatever works best for you is what works best for you. I operate at a large small scale. I mean that I only have 52 acres and at the same time I can't believe I have 52 acres, it's insane. It is not 10,000 acres or even 1,000 acres, but there is a lot that can go on with even just one acre. On the...2015-10-101h 07Growing Farms PodcastGFP064: Online Farm MarketingWe live in an increasingly digital age and as farmers we have a lot of options for how to market our farm online. Where do we focus? Where do we spend our time? At the end of the day, where do we make the investment? Today's podcast is not about registering on places like LocalHarvest.org or similar sites where we can get a posting that people can find. It is about actively engaging our customers so that once they find us they stay informed, engaged, and keep coming back. It takes a lot more effort to get a ne...2015-10-1034 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP063: What FMS Is Doing In 20152014 was a great year for Farm Marketing Solutions and for Camps Road Farm. On farm we expanded in a few areas, built a lot of infrastructure, and learned a lot about our land and what it is capable of. Online I made a lot of great progress as well. I am constantly listening to hear when farmers are struggling with something or if someone needs some advice or to hear a story about life on the farm. My whole goal with this website is to bring as much value as I can to the readers, listeners, and watchers. I...2015-10-1022 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP062: 3 Things I Will Do Differently in 2015Hindsight is always 20/20. Looking back on 2014 there are a number of things that I would do or manage differently on the farm. There are little things, like how we raise our chickens, or bigger picture stuff like how we communicate as a team to work more efficiently. With the year coming to a close, it is about time I start thinking about the lessons that I learned this year, and how I am going to apply what I've learned in the coming months. 1. Spend more time with family The first thing that I want to change about 2015...2015-10-1036 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP061: Holistic PlanningThere are SO many topics to cover when to comes to farming. Each topic reflects on something that the average farmer has to deal with as he or she runs their operation. Today's podcast episode covers it all. The mindset to focus on today is that of the big picture. It is very easy to get caught up in the minutia of each farming task. Exactly what tool to use, exactly how to grow something, or most often exactly how to fix something. As we work through all of the little details, which are super important, we must remember...2015-10-1057 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP060: Finding a Farming Model That WorksIt takes a long time to figure out what your farm is and what it is going to be. Even if you think you have an idea of exactly what you want to do on your farm that vision is bound to change. Today's podcast talks to this theme with Forrest Prit. Just like Forrest I am trying, experimenting, documenting, and learning different ways to enjoy my farm while making it profitable. With such an unconventional start-up story it's a little hard to say when it actually started, but for me it really started just about a...2015-10-1057 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP059: Starting a Farm at Your CollegeStarting a farm anywhere can be an uphill battle. The thing you have to focus is is that you are (hopefully) doing it with good intentions, and you have to want to live your passions. If you focus on those two things the rest will fall into place. If you want to start a farm at a College or University you may be in luck. We live in a time where more and more people are open to and interested in small scale sustainable agriculture. While it is nerve racking to just jump in and do it, sometimes that...2015-10-1053 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP058: What type of chickens to raise for meat?The are SO many farming operations to choose from when starting a farm. The one I chose to start with, and that has become the cornerstone of my farming operation is pastured poultry. That specifically means in this instance raising chickens on pasture with the intention of selling them for meat. When raising meat chickens there are a number of factors that you have to take into account when you are choosing a breed. Any option can be a good option as long as it works for you. There are three options in my eyes for which...2015-10-101h 04Growing Farms PodcastGFP057: On Farm Events for Marketing and FunHaving people come visit your farm can simultaneously be very stressful and the most fun you've had all year. With how much transparency is playing a part in small farm marketing these days, on farm events are a great way to get your customers (or potential customers) involved in the farm. This farm podcast is about our first annual Hop Harvest Festival at Camps Road Farm. What we did to plan it, how we pulled it off, and what we plan to do differently next year. We had great success this year inviting over 50 people to the farm to...2015-10-1054 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP056: Hiring Farm WorkersThe hiring of farm workers can be a really tricky process. How do you know you're going to hire the right person? What's the process like if you've never done it before? That's what we're talking about (and more) in today's podcast episode. I have had several changes with staff on farm lately. People moving on, moving up, moving sideways, moving West. I need to fill some spots to ensure that all the work gets done that needs to get done. I have had a pretty successful time hiring new employees, even on a temporary basis. For...2015-10-1057 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP055: Good Farm ManagementIt will never cease to amaze me the amount of things that farmers will take on in a season. There are many factors that play into how that happens, but at the end of the day it is how you deal with it that defines you. One of the biggest factors that plays into crushing responsibility: This factor is often over-looked. That factor is your own decisions in the winter that lead to insanity in the summer. The hitch with farming is that most operations are simple or inexpensive to start on a certain scale. The problems...2015-10-1032 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP054: Being Part of the Food FightEvery farmers' journey through life will be as uniquely theirs as their farm will be. Today's podcast episode shares a great story of how a vegetable farm was started in Missouri not just by one woman, but by a community of people working to support that one woman. I found out very early on that it is not the individual that succeeds, but the group. I could not be where I am today, and I know I couldn't go where I am headed without the support of those people around me. Sometimes that support means they will...2015-10-1057 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP053: Introducing New Farm Products to your Market"The riches are in the niches." Or so I've been told. The problem is often that there is a lot of consumer educating involved with introducing a niche product onto the market. What do you do when no one knows how to use what you have to offer, but you know it's going to be a good business? One of the answers that I have found is to try everything. And I mean everything to get the information in front of your customers. If you are in multiple forms of media you will be able to reach people in...2015-10-1058 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP052: Using Video for your Farm MarketingThe most common misconception about video marketing is that it is hard. That doesn't have to be true at all. I recorded, edited, and published my latest farm video right from my cell phone. Quite honestly, that blows my mind, and I'm a geek. Let's take a look at the three biggest fears that people have when it comes to video marketing. 3 Fears of Video Marketing 1. I will look like a fool on camera. So? If you are yourself, you're honest, and you have a good message you will not look like a fool. When...2015-10-1055 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP051: Is Starting A Farm Stressful?"Farming is hard." I hear it over and over again. But what does it mean? Farming is going to mean a million things to a million different people. There are an infinite number of scenarios that can play out when it comes to starting and running a farm. Now having interviewed dozens of other farmers on how they got their start in agriculture I can tell you one thing, it's hard, and it's worth it. Oh sure, there will be times when you want to throw your hands p and walk away. Many of those times you...2015-10-1043 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP050: Prioritizing and Organizing To Do ListsThe list of things to do is ever expanding on the farm. There is always more to do, and even simple tasks become complicated if left to long. The worst is to repeat a past mistake because you had forgotten about it, or you have remembered it wrong. I have been working for years to find a system that works for me in terms of organizing and record keeping. Am I done? Heck no! I have a long way to go yet, but I have learned some good things along the way. In today's farm podcast episode I share...2015-10-1039 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP049: Business Agility and Bee KeepingAgility in your agricultural business can be the difference between coming back for another growing season, or putting the farm to rest. That agility starts with listening. Your customers will tell you what they want you to produce. It is then up to you to decide whether you want to listen, and if that will work for both you and your business. I had no idea that I would end up where I am today. If you told me 10 years ago that I would be a chicken farmer running a 50 acre farm, hosting a podcast, and selling eBooks on...2015-10-1054 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP048: Sustainable Farming is Good For BusinessSustainable farming is the path I have chosen for my career in agriculture. When you think about it, it's kind of a no-brainer. It's right there in the name, "sustainable". That means I get to keep going. I get to keep doing what I love because it is sustainable. That word sustainable has given me pause lately. What exactly does it mean to be sustainable? What does that mean on a big scale for the world at large? What does that mean on a small scale for me, my family, and my farm? I have been giving it thought...2015-10-1059 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP047: Creating a Marketing Plan Is EasyEverything goes smoother when you have a plan. There have been so many unplanned surprises on the farm this year that I am glad my marketing hasn't thrown me too many curve balls. I took the time initially to lay out what I needed to do to market my farm, and now I am executing that plan. I will admit that when I first sat down to create a marketing plan, I found the task to be a little daunting. My marketing plan got a little involved. That is in part because marketing takes a significant amount of effort...2015-10-1058 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP046: Diversify Marketing and Alpaca FarmingIt is good business practice to get the most out of any effort you put into your business. That definitely applies to farming. Diversity is the name of the game on small farms these days, but that doesn't necessarily have to mean a diversity of farming operations. Barbara Ronchetti of Island Alpaca Company on Martha's Vineyard shares great insight on having just one type of agricultural operation, in her case alpaca, and getting the most bang for your buck. While I am working toward a diverse farm I have a main area of focus right now and...2015-10-1052 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP045: How to Find Farm LandWouldn't it be nice if the perfect piece of land just fell into our respective laps? I know I would love it. Since that kind of miracle doesn't happen every day we must resort to more conventional land-locating techniques. In today's farm podcast I highlight my strategy for finding land. Since my farm is currently very very wet, I will be looking for some dry pasture nearby where I can run some chickens until my pastures dry out. I will be applying these techniques myself in the weeks to come. They've worked in the past, they will again I'm...2015-10-1000 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP044: Behind the Scenes of Farm Marketing SolutionsIt's not secret that farming is hard work. What if you want to be a farmer and an online entrepreneur? That's a whole new level. In this episode of the Growing Farms Podcast I share what my schedule is and how I produce the content that I do. In addition to giving you a look at the man behind the curtain I share some updates on what is going on with the podcast, I introduce my latest video project, and share my philosophy on work/life balance that keeps me sane. Welcome FatCow as a sponsor of...2015-10-0933 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP043: Before You Start Planting"Anybody can grow stuff. It is selling that is the skill." I love that quote from my guest on the Growing Farms Podcast today. George does a great job at cutting to the chase. If you want to make a living farming you have to sell what the customers want and you have to stay on your toes. Selling is one of the more difficult things we have to do as farmers, in my opinion. I have a passion for making my farm viable so that I can stay here for the rest of my life. That being said...2015-10-0950 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP042: Starting a Farm PodcastPodcasting is becoming hugely popular as a method of entertainment and education. Marketing professionals and non-marketing professionals around the world are getting into podcasting as another way to reach their audience. A very in-depth article from Social Media Examiner outlines how and why podcasting is a "must" for marketing professionals and business owners. I could go over the statistics and examples here, but my site focuses on farming. What can a podcast do for your farm? The answer is, it can do a lot for your farm. Farmer & customer interaction is crucial to building valuable...2015-10-091h 02Growing Farms PodcastGFP041: Publishing Your First Farm BookOne thing we all love as farmers is learning new things about our trade. Wouldn't it be awesome to become an author of one of those books that sits on shelves around the world? That is exactly what we cover on today's farm podcast episode. When I got into farming I knew at some point I was going to write a book, but I had no idea what I was going to write it on. While I didn't have the idea for the book yet, I had my eyes open waiting for that topic to present itself. As my...2015-10-0947 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP040: What I earned in 2013 as a FarmerLife is a series of successes and failures. I judge my year farming in 2013 to be a success for a number of reasons. I was able to build a farm business without going into debt. Now, that comes with a very important clarification. I did find off farm income to help pay my rent, pay for my car, and cover some of my other bills. When I say that I was able to start my farm without going into debt I don't want you to think I supported myself completely from on farm income the first year...2015-10-0939 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP039: Getting Investment to Start a FarmAre you trying to start a farm and you are looking for investment capital? What would you do if you had an extra $10,000 to invest, how about $100,000, how about ONE MILLION DOLLARS!?!? The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about successful people trying to make a living at organic or small scale farming. My thought would immediately be that if they found success in another area of business some of that should translate over to farming. Wouldn't that makes sense after all? The answer is, "Yeah, probably." But it is not going to be ANY EASIER...2015-10-0947 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP038: Farm Stays and AG HospitalityA smart farmer looks for every way he or she can use what they already have on farm to help make the farm money. Farm Stays are a great way to use the infrastructure that you already have to increase your profits, diversify your income, and add a little more security. On my farm, the farm I am farm manager of, I have a little bit of start-up capital, but I still have to worry about making the most of what I have available to me. One of the assets to this property is that there is an old...2015-10-0956 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP037: Farming Veterans become Veteran FarmersThere are few others for understanding order and efficiency better than our veterans. Today's guest is no exception. Terrell Spencer "Spence" of Across the Creek Farm in West Fork, Arkansas has a great many things to say about what it takes to be a truly sustainable farmer. "The real sustainable farmer is a profitable farmer." Profit does not have to come at a sacrifice to the quality of your plants or animals. Rather it comes as a product of good planning and better record keeping. Spence has really been able to drill down into exactly what his...2015-10-0955 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP036: Innovative CSA MarketingIn farming you not only have to do what is best for your business, you have to do what is best for you as well. Sometimes that means changing what you grow, sometimes that means down-sizing, and sometimes it means scaling up. Other times is simply means you need to change the way you manage sales to take the stress off yourself. In today's farm podcast episode I speak with Dan Heckler from Jack's Farm in Pennsylvania who has done just that. In today's interview he tells us how he markets his CSA vegetables to best serve the customer...2015-10-0956 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP035: You think you want to start a farm?There is so much more to starting a career in agriculture than growing vegetables or herding cattle. It is a common misconception that anyone can farm. That is where the important distinction between gardening and farming comes in. To be a farmer takes true grit, a steel sense of resolve, and the willingness to smile in the face of any and every adversary. Almost once a week I get a very inspired e-mail from someone who is today where I was a few years ago. My own thoughts were, "I am going to give up the City...2015-10-0939 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP034: Advice on Starting a FarmThe single most important thing when starting a farm is research. This podcast covers some great research information used by myself and my guest Shawn as we start and run our own farms. It does seem at times like there are a million things to learn and get done when starting and running a farm. It takes copious amounts of planning, diligent note-taking, and a whole lot of luck to get it right. In the end, "getting it right" is entirely up to you. There are as many types of farms as there are farmers to work...2015-10-0944 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP033: Successful Farm Marketing ToolsThe most successful farm marketing tool in my arsenal is my e-mail list. Each week when I need to sell chickens I send out a letter to my list and within 24 hours I sell out. Now if you substitute "chickens" for vegetables, honey, beef, or whatever product you sell you will find similar results. Today's farm podcast episode features a friend of mine who is part owner of the Winery where I hold my CSA pick-ups. Eric Gorman is the son of the original owner Ralph Gorman who I featured in last week's farm podcast. Eric has brought some...2015-10-0957 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP032: How to Start a Farm WineryIn order to keep on top of market trends, grow your business, and keep paying the bills you have to be willing and able to adapt to what the market is calling for. That doesn't mean if you are a poultry farmer you need to start raising vegetables, but perhaps you can do something different with your chickens than you are already doing. That is exactly what I am thinking as I look to the future. The wonderful thing about me doing these interviews is that I personally learn so much when I am doing them. While...2015-10-0951 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP031: Farm Family with Kate SuscovichI have been highlighting the farms and people that have helped me get a start with my farm this year. After all, I have a lot to thank them for. As I listened back through some of the episodes recently I noticed a glaring omission. Kate! My wife, Kate, is the reason I am able to do what I am able to do. Even as I write this she is watching our daughter Mabel so I have some time at the computer. She's an incredible person, and this relationship would be nothing without her. Whether...2015-10-0942 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP030: Farm Manager of Non-ProfitFarming is not something that anyone should have to do alone. I have tried it, it's not great. I strongly feel that the more people you can involve with you farm the happier you will be, also more successful. You don't always get to choose the people who work with you on your farm. That's often a great thing. When you work as a farm manager under a board of directors that can go either way. They can either be your best friends, or huge pains in the behinds. In the case of Sullivan Farm, Joe tells u...2015-10-0948 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP029: Farm EducationEducation is crucial on the farm, especially as consumers are becoming more aware of what is in their food. Questions are being raised as to whether what we are eating is healthy or not. The public is eager to know just who their farmer is. It is up to you to feed that need, provide the answers your (potential) customers are looking for, and become "their farmer". On my farm this year I have done, and continue to do a whole lot of education. It is pretty hard to sell someone a whole chicken when they don't...2015-10-0943 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP028: Pursing Passion in Agriculture"Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try." - Gail Devers That statement is so simple, and so very true. I am 28 years old and I feel like I have already accomplished so much in my life. I have lived in New York City after growing up in Connecticut. I worked for the "King of All Media". Competed as a road bicycle racer in Manhattan. Married the woman of my dreams. Rode a bicycle across the United States (with dream-woman-wife-lady). Fed 1,000 people for a summer working on an organic farm. I started a successful farm of my...2015-10-0928 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP027: Getting Free PressIf you want to succeed as a small (or large) business you have to market your products. The only problem with farm is that the margins can get pretty slim. That is when us crafty folks break out the guerrilla marketing techniques and find out way into free or cheap media exposure. In today's episode I share a story about some free media attention that I received this year that led to me landing a place to farm, getting me some customers, and giving me a little security about land in the future. You can find my...2015-10-0957 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP026: Farm News and Grass-Whisperer VisitI had a hard time with the title of this podcast because I couldn't decided whether I should write that I have big news AND the Grass Whisperer came to visit my farm, or it IS the big news that the Grass Whisperer came to my farm. It was a tough call because it sure was great having Troy on my farm. There was a bunch of big news preceding the interview with Troy Bishopp the Grass Whisperer. The first is that I got a job. That's right, I took a job, and I am super excited...2015-10-0951 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP025: Family First or Business First?It can be awkward, weird, tough, and uncomfortable to mix family and business. It can also be great. Any which way you do it you need to get everything in writing, and keep all the details straight. I will be the first to admit, Kate and I have not been as up on this as we should be. There is a lot we have talked about, but we haven't been so good about putting it down on paper. I find in general getting things down on paper when times are good gives you something to fall back...2015-10-0942 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP024: Recognizing and Fixing InefficienciesTime and money. Never feels like there is enough of either. Wouldn't it be great if we could all have a little more time in our day. Perhaps you could use it to spend time with family, grow more crops, or herd more cattle. Who knows? The point is, we need a way to make the most out of our waking and working hours on the farm. That is where efficiency comes in. Becoming more efficient at what you are doing on the farm will make you more productive you will get more done. Being able to g...2015-10-0936 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP023: Bootstrapping a New FarmStarting and running a farm is no small task no matter who you are. You can plan until your heart's content, but there are variables and things will inevitably change. That doesn't have to be a bad thing though. You will learn a lot through farming, about farming itself, and about who you are and what you are capable of. I will be honest with you. I feel like I am constantly behind. I have three weeks worth of things that needed to get done yesterday. It wasn't for lack of planning on my part. I did...2015-10-0953 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP022: Clear, Consistent, and Compelling BrandingBranding is super important to your agricultural business whether you are on one acre or one thousand. Branding is not just for the big guys. These days people are even developing personal brands to clearly define how the are represented in the world. I have worked on developing my brand for years. I have stumbled, fumbled, and walked blindly through a mess of unclear definition(s) to reach the point where I am today. This episode is to help you not waste the same time that I did when it comes to developing your farm's brand. 2015-10-0949 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP021: Visual Food MarketingSetting up your farmers' market stand or roadside stand can be a daunting task. This is your point of sale. It is at this place where you will finally see some return for all the hard work you have put into your farm during the week. How you represent yourself and your farm with your farm stand is how your customer is going to perceive your products. 60% of a customers' opinion of food quality in restaurants is based on the retail environment. You are trying to compete with "the big guys". Most often this is...2015-10-0955 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP020: Focus and Prioritize Your Strategic Farm PlanBy necessity entrepreneurs have to accomplish a lot in a relatively short amount of time. There are so many things to balance when starting a farm or growing your current farm business if you do not keep organized and focused you are doomed from the start. Early on I created a plan for how I saw my farm going. I started at 20 years out and worked backwards to present day. I have a dream that I would like to realize and I see that dream taking shape every day around me. It is not an easy road...2015-10-0956 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP019: Two Dangerous Farm StoriesFarming is an emotional roller coaster. I feel like sometimes there is a long climb to the top emotionally, then a sharp fall before you start the climb up again. In between you might go for a few loops, hit a few bumps, and maybe go through a tunnel and lose direction for a bit. When you are riding the roller coaster you might look to other farms for advice, inspiration, and perspective. It is a natural thing to do, it can be a healthy thing to do, and I highly recommend that you do it. However...2015-10-0957 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP018: Education Based MarketingYou customers have to know why they are spending money on your product. Just because you know it is awesome, does not necessarily mean that they know it. That is where education based marketing comes into play. Consumers are getting sold to almost 24 hours a day. Selling based marketing is dying. There are so many products out on the market that consumers are looking for more information about the products they buy. That is particularly evident in the food industry. Education around food is not only something that is becoming a necessity, but it also a popular...2015-10-0948 minGrowing Farms PodcastGFP017: How to Prepare for a Media InterviewGetting exposure from the press can be either a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not talking about being caught out for a scandal or something like that, I am talking about being unprepared for that media exposure. Disregarding any bad press you might receive, and I hope that you never have cause to receive any, I want focus on how you can make the most out of the good media exposure. I have gotten good press across the country. On radio, television, and various forms of print. The honest fact is, it is not that h...2015-10-0935 min
The Beginning Farmer ShowTBF 100 :: Kickstarter, John Suscovich, and Lot’s of Hard Lessons Learned!"The Beginning Farmer Video" Kickstarter Campaign
We've done it! We've made it to Episode 100 of "The Beginning Farmer Show"! And yes, I do mean we because there is no way I wouldn't have made it this far without the encouragement of everyone who has listened, taught me, asked questions, and contributed to "The Beginning Farmer Show" community. Making it to episode 100 is a cause for celebration though, and I wanted to make this episode extra special. Of course there is the fact that the Kickstarter Campaign launches today, but on top of that I have an extra special...2015-01-281h 04
The Beginning Farmer ShowTBF 100 :: Kickstarter, John Suscovich, and Lot’s of Hard Lessons Learned!"The Beginning Farmer Video" Kickstarter Campaign
We've done it! We've made it to Episode 100 of "The Beginning Farmer Show"! And yes, I do mean we because there is no way I wouldn't have made it this far without the encouragement of everyone who has listened, taught me, asked questions, and contributed to "The Beginning Farmer Show" community. Making it to episode 100 is a cause for celebration though, and I wanted to make this episode extra special. Of course there is the fact that the Kickstarter Campaign launches today, but on top of that I have an extra special (and longer...2015-01-281h 04